CMRR

One important measure of the goodness of an opamp or an opamp circuit is

the common mode rejection ratio (CMRR)

Ideally, opamps are expected to amplify the differences between v1 and v2
with nearly infinite gain
Due to transistor nonidealities, some small amount of amplification occurs

due to the common signal of both inputs

open
loop
gain

common
mode
gain

v1
v2

vcm

vo

vo
A = ----------------v2 v1

vo

vo
A cm = --------v cm

A
CMRR = ---------A cm

Lecture 8-1

CMRR
We would like to have an infinite CMRR

v id = v 2 v 1

v1

v2 + v1
v Icm = ----------------2

v2

v o = Av id + Acm v Icm

A typical CMRR is 80-100dB at low frequency

Would the CMRR improve, or get smaller with increasing frequency?

Lecture 8-2

CMRR
Not really a problem for inverting amplifier configurations --- why?
R2
R1
Vo

Vin

But definitely a problem for noninverting amplifier configurations --- why?

R2
R1
Vo
Vin

Lecture 8-3

Difference Amplifier
Also a problem for difference amplifiers
R2
R1
Vo

Va
Vb

Lecture 8-4

Difference Amplifier
We have to scale the voltage vb to achieve balanced amplification of vb-va
R2
R1
R1

Va
Vb

Vo

R2

Lecture 8-5

CMRR
Opamp data sheets specify the CMRR for the opamp itself, but the opamp

differential amplifier circuit also has a CMRR

Rf

Even with ideal opamp model

you will see some common
mode gain if there is a mismatch
in the resistor values

Rs

vo

vin
vp

R1
R2

Lecture 8-6

Input-Currents and -Resistances

There is some small dc current flowing into/out of the inputs at all times --

input bias current

v1 _
v id
v2

IB1
IB2

There is also a component of input current that changes with input voltage

(both common mode and differential) --- input resistances

v Icm

Rcm

v1 _
v id
v2

Rid

Lecture 8-7

Input Resistance
These resistances are generally quite large: Rcm ~ 100M, and Rid ~ 1M
These resistances are even larger for MOS opamps

2Rcm
Rid
2

2Rcm

Lecture 8-8

Input Resistance
These opamp input resistances do not affect an inverting amplifier

configuration as long as R1 is much less than Rid and Rcm

R2
R1
Vo

Vin

But these resistances are what determines the input resistance of a non-

inverting amplifier configuration

R2
R1
Vo
Vin

Lecture 8-9

Input Resistances
The resistors R1 and R2 should be kept significantly smaller than the input

resistances for the gain to be close to ideal

R2

R1

v1
2Rcm

vo

Rid

iin

v2

2Rcm

A ( v2 v1 )

vin
Rin

Lecture 8-10

Input Resistances
R2

R1

v1
2Rcm

vo

Rid

iin

v2

2Rcm

A ( v2 v1 )

vin
Rin

Lecture 8-11

Nonzero Output Resistance

We also have to keep in mind that the opamp output cannot source an infinite

amount of current --- so we cant drive arbitrarily small resistance loads

This is modeled by an output resistance, Ro
R2

if
vin < 0

R1

iL

Ro
A ( v 2 v1 )

RL

note that vo
definition is
changed when
output resistance
is added to
the model

Lecture 8-12

Measuring Output Resistance

R2
R1

Ro
A ( v2 v1 )

Lecture 8-13

Modeling Output Resistance

Since the open loop gain depends on frequency, so does the opamp circuit

output impedance

Lecture 8-14

Input Bias Current

The input bias current is not frequency dependent, but can cause an unwanted

dc output response
R2
R1

IB1
IB2

Lecture 8-15

Compensating for IB
In practice, a resistor is added so that the bias current drops are compensated

properly between the two ports

Rf

Rs

vo
vin

Rcomp

Lecture 8-16

Compensating for IB
R2
R1
R3

IB1
IB2

Lecture 8-17

dc Offset Voltage
Another unwanted dc output signal is due to the dc offset voltage
A dc differential input is required for a real opamp to zero the output
This offset is due to mismatch in transistor parameters, and is temperature

dependent --- more on this later in the course

VOS ~ 1-5mV
1

VOS

Lecture 8-18

dc Input Offset Voltage

Calculate output voltage due to dc input offset voltage
Rf

Rs

vo

vin
VOS

Lecture 8-19

ac Coupling
We can avoid this offset voltage at the output by using ac coupling
Rf

CC

Rs

vo

vin
VOS

Lecture 8-20